Decision details

Thanet District Council called a Climate Emergency on 11th July 2019. On September 22nd 2022, the first draft of the Thanet District Council Net Zero Strategy was presented to cabinet and the updated TDC pledge was agreed: 

To do what is within our powers and resources to: 

• make Thanet District Council net zero by 2030 in our core carbon footprint (this includes emissions we have direct control over e.g. the estates and activities that we own and manage) 
• address emissions that TDC has partial control over (those outside of the core carbon footprint e.g. projects, procurement and social housing) as soon as possible, and by 2050 at the latest.
• support KCC, the Government, business, industry and the community to make Thanet as a whole net zero by 2050.

In order to make these targets possible we will:

• call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the targets possible;
• continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;
• investigate all possible sources of external funding and match funding to support this commitment

The cabinet also approved the draft Net Zero Strategy for public engagement, which ran until Friday 11th November 2022. Members of the public and stakeholders were asked to complete either a short questionnaire comprising three questions or a long survey comprising 8 questions. 

32 responses to the short survey and 40 responses to the long survey were received. This feedback is summarised in the report and the full document is attached as annex 1 to the Cabinet report.

As part of the engagement we received a large number of comments and suggestions which are summarised in Table 1 of the full report. The table also includes TDC’s response to the comments, showing how we will take the comments into consideration.

The engagement process has led to a number of recommended additions to the strategy. These were discussed at the Climate Change Cabinet Advisory Group and were considered useful. Members are asked to read the report and consider the recommendations below. 

Further information has also been added to the Net Zero Strategy which helps to clarify our route forwards. This includes a paragraph around the use of seaweed to sequester carbon:

“Scientists will assess the carbon storage and sequestration potential of all UK seas, as well as within Marine Protected Areas and it is hoped that the report will be available in summer 2023. We will use this information to inform our carbon sequestration plans”. 

The updated strategy is attached as Annex 2 to the Cabinet report. Any additional information is highlighted in yellow within the document for ease of viewing.

Cabinet agreed:

1.  To approve the proposed recommended additions to the Net Zero Strategy:

a.  To add interim targets (to 2030 and 2040) for the emissions the council has partial control over in the next action plan. This action plan will be written in 2024;

b.  To add the emissions from home working to future carbon footprinting calculations; 

c.  To consider calculating emissions from staff commuting when resources become available to collate the more complicated data set; 

d.  To work with KCC on Local area energy planning to devise a plan for renewable energy across the district, where resources allow; 

e.  To set out a clear plan to ensure that all staff are educated on climate change.

2.  To approve the Final Net Zero Strategy 2023;

3.  To continue to note that the strategy cannot be fully implemented without external funding being available, and agreed, in accordance with the pledge, to lobby external agencies and government.

The council declared a Climate Change Emergency in 2019 and the Net Zero Strategy is the first step in addressing the emergency and the Thanet District Council pledge.

The report set out one further option as follows:

Option 2: Do not approve the recommendations and offer an alternative approach.

This was rejected because the strategy has been to public engagement and their comments have been included.